Have you been working for your company for a long time? If so, then
congratulations! But keep in mind that the longer you’ve been working,
the easier it is to fall into the trap of developing bad work habits. Read
on to discover if you’ve caught any of the ones listed below — and
why and how you should break it.

1.Using your cellphone

Faces focused on a screen might be the new normal, as Canadians
reportedly spend an average of almost 11 hours each day looking at
one. Despite the increasing growth in screen use, you should avoid
becoming heavily addicted to digital devices, not only for your own
health, but also because it can damage your work performance. As
we’ve previously discussed in ‘9 Ways to Improve Workplace
Professionalism’, it’s best to keep your phone far away from you, since
scrolling through your device can be a huge distraction. To stay on top
of your tasks, tuck your phone away in your drawer or bag, and only
use it for work purposes.

2. Eating lunch at your desk

After a productive morning, having a meal at your desk so you can
have a working lunch might seem like a good idea instead of walking
to the pantry and eating with your coworkers. However, not leaving
your area actually harms both your productivity and health in the long
run. In fact, Pain-Free Working notes how sitting for too long has been
dubbed ‘the new smoking’ because it places you at a higher risk of
developing cardiac problems and sore muscles, while also causing
your mind to become burned out. Skip the sedentary work lifestyle and
treat your mind to an hour off by going to the break room or having a
lovely lunch at a café near your office.

3. Gossiping about co-workers

Whether it’s talking about a big celebrity break-up or dishing the latest
news about a person disliked by many, people love to gossip. When it
comes to the workplace (or even life in general!), however, you should
leave this practice of spreading personal information behind. Not only
does this cause you to waste time as you chat mindlessly, but it also
cultivates an unhealthy environment for you and your coworkers. You
can turn this bad habit around by making time to talk to your
colleagues and learning about who they really are for the sake of it.
Who knows? You might just make a new friend.

4. Working last minute

Have you ever received a project that you thought was too difficult to
accomplish? Or are you a perfectionist who’s afraid of failure? If
you’ve said ‘yes’ to either question, you probably have a habit of
procrastinating. While it’s imperative to submit high-quality work,
putting off a task for a few hours can cause a slump in productivity and
make the quality of your work to suffer. To beat both this bad habit
and your work deadlines, tell yourself that the best way to finish any
task is to simply start on it and keep moving forward. From there, you
can remind yourself of what you’re working for or why you do your
best for a source of inspiration.

5. Working when you’re sick

If you’re a workaholic, there’s a big possibility that you’ve decided to
work despite being sick. Although it’s an admirable effort, as you want
to help achieve the company’s goals, working while you’re sick — or,
‘presenteeism’, as it’s come to be known — can harm your health. In
fact, Bustle reports that going to work when you’re sick not only
exhausts your physical state, but also your mental health, because
presenteeism weakens your productivity three times more than simply
going on sick leave. When you find yourself in bad shape, don’t
hesitate to ask your boss if you can rest at home so that you
reinvigorate yourself and truly work efficiently.